Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion The Water Cooler OT: My new toy

Next to some good tunes or a killer movie soundtrack, this is music to my ears.











This is the third Harley I have owned over the years. Can't beat the sound and rumble of a V-Twin. Like everything else upgrades are inevitable.

Check what my nephew just bought. Damn thing cost more than my car. I don't even know what model it is, and I have a serious case of "cycle" envy.

That would be an FXDL aka Dyna Low Rider. Sweet ride!!!

nice sporty monstermile.

just curious, if its your 3rd harley, why you went with a sporty?? my first harley was a sporty, and i couldnt get rid of it fast enough.. it was too small, and too slow. and sucked for highway driving, but was great in the city.

let us see some more pice after upgrades.. BTW- great NASCAR race in dover last week.

bigjohn

John,
This is not only my third Harley, it is my third Sporty. I like 'em. Very good handling and enough power. This one is a 1200 conversion with Buell heads and pistons as well as Screamin Eagle cam, air cleaner and exhaust. It is very quick and has plenty of torque. May not be the most confortable, but I am used to it. I am actually looking into getting one of the new Sportys with rubber mounted engines.

And yeah it was a great race. I was there of course. Gordon smacked the wall right in front of me. Both my guys, Wallace and Mayfield got wrapped up in other peoples messes though.

monster-

thats cool on the sporty.. mine was an 82(AMC days) with the 1000cc. i put an S&S carb, and some drag pipes for a little extra power, and lots 'POP' out the pipes, but it was just never a good ride to me.. it was only a 4 speed, and it would almost rattle itself apart on the highway trying to keep up with the other big bikes at 70mph. but thats what cool about harleys, they make all different strokes for all different folks. i am a bigger guy too, so i always felt a little cramped on my sporty.. in fact, after i had pulled into the parking lot one night.. one of my buddies came out and told me i looked like i was riding around with a flashlight stuck up my ass.. needless to say, i needed a bigger bike.

i sold the bike a few months after that, bought a truck, got out of the army, and have never owned one since. on those nice spring days, i get the urge to wanna ride real bad.. but, another bike is still a few years away.. i am a patient man.

bigjohn

bj, I'm guessing that at $62 per fill up for the truck, that bike is starting to look pretty good.

Very Sweet, I would be wearing a Monster Smile too if I had me that beautiful machine!

I sold my last bike a few years ago, and every spring I still get that itch! I almost bought a new one this year but decided to go with this new toy instead. So far so good, still have the itch but it has been greatly reduced... for now anyways.

Cheers,
JH

I'm not too into bikes, but this latest toy, I could handle

I have had bikes for the better part of 25 years now since I was 16, I still love them, and always will. I think once they get into your blood there is not much that can replace the feeling of being out on the open road with a bike there is a feeling of freedom that, well you just have to experience it to know what I mean. The year before last we went to Australia on holiday and came across an add from a tour company that would rent you a Harley to tour the Sydney area so on a spur of the moment we rented a Harley to tour the Blue Mountains around Sydney it was simply awesome not even in a car like the Porsche would we have experienced the same sense of openness and freedom that we did on that bike.

I know exactly what you mean, John. When I was young, we would do the "spring break" thing in Ft. Lauderdale. We found we could rent little motorcycles (90cc. Oh stop laughing! They were fun!) on the cheap for the week we were there. I've never been in a position to own a motorcycle, but if I ever hit the lottery..........

I've owned two MGB convertibles in my life, and I've loved cruising the countryside in them. But even that didn't compare to the open feeling of a motorcycle.

I know they can be dangerous, and I know they have drawbacks (sudden rainstorms, bugs in your teeth, etc.), but they sure make you feel alive. Another problem is that a helmet is now the smart thing to do. I loved riding without one 40 years ago. I fear that wearing a helmet would spoil the openness by putting you back "inside" again, and it would be like looking through a window in a car.

texas is one of the few states that has a 'no helmet' law.. so if you want the wind in your hair, then come take a ride down here.. i think south carolina is 'no helmet' also. at least they used to be.

and just to mention, i find it somewhat ironic that we have a 'no helmet' law, but it is required that ALL passengers in a vehicle must wear their seatbelt. i always thought that was an extreme amount of double standards being displayed by my state. but hey, george w used to be our governor, so what do ya expect..

bigjohn

I think we have a no helmet law here in Ohio, too. At least I see plenty of folks riding without one. It just seems to me that wearing one is a smart thing to do. Forty years ago we didn't know any better. . Ignorance is, INDEED, bliss

There are some really weird helmet laws in the States, in fact Texas is one of them with conditions to it. Illinois and Iowa have no helmet laws at all, see this link for details on the different States http://www.gwrra.org/helmetlaws.html I had looked into this when we were touring through the states to see where we were required to wear a helmet and where we could get away without.

Cheers
JH

Does whether or not you wear a helmet affect your vehicle and/or life insurance rates? I can understand why some would like to go without helmets, but all it takes is one blind driver... [shudder]

i dont know about other states, but in texas, it does make your insurance go up. in fact, there is a clause in the texas law, that for it to be totally legal for you to ride without a helmet, you must have full coverage insurance for damage to the bike and vehicle, as well as for persoanl injury.. i aint real sure why that is, but i think its so the state doesnt have to pay your hospital bill when you slam your unprotected skull against the pavement..

i could be wrong on that last part, but i know it does make your insurance higher.

bigjohn

OK...I no longer have it, but I did own a sweet bike myself at one time. Here's a pic of what I had...1987 Suzuki Intruder. I even had black leather sadlebags.

i had a suzuki right out of high school for a while.. i cant remember the model, but it was 650 cc.. it was ok on power, but i had constant ignition probs with it.. between the key, starter switch, solenoid, and starter it was alwys breaking down. i almost got sooo frustrated with it, i was gonna pull all the wire that was attached to the ignition system , and just replace it all.

thank gosh we lived on a hill, so i could just 'pop-clutch' start it when i needed.. but everywhere i would go, i would always look to park on a decline in case it didnt want to start. i sold it before i ended up fixing it.

bigjohn

If I were to get another bike someday it'll likely be a Honda Magna. I like the new models, and I like the old 1987-1988 super magnas. But living in LA, I'll likely never get another one until I perhaps move into the country again. WAY to dangerous here in the city.

Living in the city was certainly one of the considerations in not getting another bike at this time. Our plan is that once the kids have grown up and are off to university, college or simply have moved out of the house we sell the house and move back to the country, and then without question I would buy another bike. Living in the city and fighting traffic and the morons that you have to deal with when you are on the bike takes away from the enjoyment of it. Just as Bigjohn says he is a patient man I too will just wait again for the right time and then well not sure what I would buy but it sure will be fun shopping. Until then I have no regrets with the new toy it is fun to drive, the kids love it the wife likes it so everyone is happy.

Speaking of contradictions regarding helmet laws, shouldn't helmets be required for driving in cars too? Think how many lives that would save. Of course, the ladies that pushed for California's helmet law would be all upset - not wanting to mess up their hair and all - but I sure would love to hear them explain why motorcyclists need helmets to go down to the liquor store, but car drivers at 80 mph on the freeway are perfectly safe without them.

airbags

"ejected from vehicle"

or was "airbags" in reference to the helmet law ladies?

If you have on a seatbelt you shouldn't get ejected... of course, it might break your ribs.

i used to never wear my seatbelt til they made it a state law that you had to.. even then, i didnt wear it all the time, til i got a $105 dollar ticket for no seatbelt a year ago..

i click it on everytime now.. its amazing how well $105 bucks can make you remember..

bigjohn

Not meaning to start an anti-government thread, but I resent being told I HAVE to wear a seat belt. I think wearing a seat belt is a good idea, and I do it. But it's not the government's job to protect me from myself. It's the government's job to protect me from YOU!

Sorry Jack, but it actually is the government's job to protect you from yourself. Hence, no drinking till 21, no drugs, wear seatlbelts, don't have sex with animals, etc. Standard stuff really...and lord knows we'd all do it if it weren't for Uncle Sam.

Actually all of those things except wearing your seatbelt can cause direct damage to others. Then again, maybe you could get ejected out of your car and land on a pedestrian?...

Right on, Andrew. And, actually, I don't need any law to keep me from having sex with animals. Not my cup o' tea.

Capn,

Believe me, many do it anyway. I work in law enforcement, probation officer, and the law itself does not keep many people from breaking it. I don't break the law because I have been taught the difference between right and wrong, not because of what the government says. Those who have no regard for others or themselves are the ones breaking the law. I do not like the seat belt law. In Indiana I do not have to wear a seatbelt if I have a truck or a truck plate on my SUV. What sense does that make? We need to enforce laws where there are victims other than ourselves. Just my 2 cents.

No helmets required here in Delaware. But the funny thing is you have to carry one on the bike. That goes for a passanger too. What good it does to have it on the bike is beyond me. Like you are gonna grab it real quick and throw it on in a wreck. OoooooK. I actually got a ticket back in 88 for not having two helmets on the bike when I had a passanger. Neighboring PA just last year made helmets not mandatory. Maryland still sucks.

Well I guess the argument for belts is that while we tend to think in terms of being protected from ourselves or its my right if I wish to keep my seat belt off we forget about being protected from the passenger in the car that is not belted in, you need only ask any veteran traffic cop about how many fatalities they have seen where the passenger in back killed the driver or passenger in front as they slammed through them on their way out the windshield. I may not like being told I have to wear one but I can see the merit in it and I do wear it always. Same for the helmet I may not like it and at times I sure would like to take it off and feel the wind in my hair again, but self preservation takes over and inevitably I wear it whether required by law or not.

And sorry the topic has gone so far off your original post, I will only say this very cool bike, she is a beauty and I hope you get as much enjoyment from it as you should!

cheers

jh

Yeah...I could see that. I was thinking it was due to pressure from the insurance companies. What I figure is, the insurance companies want you to wear a seatbelt so they pay less when you crash.

john-

dont worry about the topic getting so far off the original post.. it happens all the time. we eventully make it back around.

i just got off the phone with my buddy who got his new wakeboard delivered today.. he wants me to come out and drive the boat tonight while he tries out his new board. unless he has gotten any better from the last time i went with him, i will have to remind him to wear a helmet..

bigjohn

You may want to add a five point harness to the wakeboard as well then

Life is full of risks.

Not my last bike, but my favorite that I've owned:

http://www.bikepics.com/pictures/024006/

I literally cried the night I traded it in for a SeaDoo.

I took all those stupid stickers off mine, BTW. Did you see a big "PORSCHE" sticker on the side of John's ride?

I can't stand stupid decals. The ones that make me laugh the most are the "Powered by" ones. Well, really? And I assumed you had a Ferrari engine in that CRX.

i feel your pain peter.. i hate the ones on the back windshields of trucks that looks like a little kid urinating on the emblem(ford, chevy, dodge) of a different truck..

have you seen those?? it makes me want to stop the truck and urinate on the driver.

i have 5 bumper stickers on my truck.. the classic 'flying eagle' NRA sticker, and FOP(fraternal order of police)contributing member sticker, "everybodys somebody in luckenbach" sticker, a willie nelson 'whiskey river' sticker, and a robert earl keen 'road goes on forever' sticker. keep in mind, i have a trail master heavy tow rig, so my bumper is about 5x bigger than the normal bumper.. i still got plenty of space.

i think i might get a 'powered by honda' sticker for my chevy 1 ton.

bigjohn

Bill Watterson hates those things too. Just so we're all clear, those are not licensed and are used without permission.

"Powered by DeezNuts" is popular around here. And the giant scrotum hanging from pick-up trucks' spare tire mount.

God, we saw one of those hanging off of a little hatchback the other day. Made me want to get out a pair of hedge trimmers...

You're joking? "Powerd by DeezNuts" is a bumper sticker? And then they have a giant Scrotum hanging off the truck? I will have to keep an eye out for this next month when we are heading south, I had never even heard of this before! Are mullets required before you can actaully put these on your vehicle?

Ok so I had to do a search to see if this is for real and well here they are www.thenutshop.com
What more can we say, other then I just sit and shake my head.

One has to wonder...will the female counter parts be far behind? I hope not!

OK! That's it. I've lived too long. Bad taste reigns. Just take me out and shoot me.

The old Dodge Ram logo looks like a uterus - or at least a drawing of a uterus.

Only if you've got a dirty mind, Mark. So, we know where YOUR mind is.

Hehe. I don't recall the last time I looked at a uteris and got 'excited'. Maybe if I were feeling the urge to become a papa?

jr

A uterus is not attractive. I saw the old lady's during the c-section. Kinda looked like an alien escape pod that had gone through tomato soup.

Once again I would like to remind you of the lesson to be learned from "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance". Don't try too hard figure out how all that stuff works. To really enjoy something, it's best not knowing how it works. Enjoying a sunset for its beauty is more rewarding than analyzing light refraction or atmospheric conditions or whatever.

Good point BigWill,
reminds me of that Simpson's episode when the teachers went on strike and professor Frink (?) was teaching the kindergarten kids. He wouldn't let them play with the rolly-blowing ball toy because "you wouldn't enjoy it on as many levels as I do" Honestly, some things are better left a mystery.

In reply to:

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"Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance".

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Ye gads! I hadn't thought about that book in 30+ years. I really loved it. I think I should go back and reread it now that I'm old enough to understand it.